Rangers Extinguish RV Fire at Park Campground

July 8, 2011

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Grand Teton National Park rangers, with the help of Jackson Hole Fire/EMS, extinguished a sizeable fire in a 30-foot motor coach at the Colter Bay RV Park on the evening of July 7. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received notification of the fire at 9:30 p.m., and a ranger reached the campsite just two minutes later. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The occupants of the motor home, a couple from Cincinnati, Ohio, were watching TV when they noticed smoke and quickly evacuated the vehicle. A bystander, who also noticed the smoke, called 911 to report the fire. Other nearby campers began to use water hoses to help douse the flames until structural firefighters could arrive. When the first ranger arrived at the campsite, flames were visible through the recreational vehicle’s windows and heavy smoke was seeping outside. Eventually the flames began to emerge though the roof and air conditioning unit.

Engine 2 from Grand Teton arrived on scene just as the motor coach became fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters on the engine were able to suppress and contain the fire to the motor home. They were able to eventually enter the motor coach to extinguish the flames inside. Teton County Engine 42 and Tender 47 responded from Station 4 in Moran and Battalion 3 from Jackson also responded. About 15 personnel were involved in the structural fire operation.

There were no injuries; however, the motor coach sustained substantial damage and a domestic cat was trapped inside.